Key terms
Applicant – You, if you are seeking review of the decision.
Internal review – Asking the Social Services Regulator to review certain decisions or findings it has made under the Child Wellbeing and Safety Act 2005 (CWS Act).
The Social Services Regulator (SSR) – Established under section 4 of the Social Services Regulation Act 2021 (SSR Act). Since February 2026, the SSR administers the Reportable Conduct Scheme.
Reportable allegation – An allegation of conduct of a kind covered by the Reportable Conduct Scheme.
Entity – An organisation covered by the Reportable Conduct Scheme.
Head of entity – The most senior officer in an organisation covered by the Reportable Conduct Scheme.
Notice to produce – A notice requiring a person or an entity to produce documents or information (issued under section 16ZG or section 16ZZI of the CWS Act).
Reportable conduct notice to comply – A notice requiring the head of an entity to take steps to meet scheme obligations (issued under section 16ZZJ of the CWS Act).
Child Wellbeing and Safety Act 2005 (CWS Act) – The legislation guiding the decisions and process undertaken by the Social Services Regulator in relation to the Reportable Conduct Scheme.
Amend or revoke – A decision by the Social Services Regulator to change the notice or to set it aside.
Affirm – A decision by the Social Services Regulator not to change its decision.
Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) – A tribunal you can apply to for further review to following completion of the SSR internal review.
How to apply for an internal review
If you would like the Social Services Regulator (SSR) to reconsider an improvement notice, a prohibition notice, an infringement notice it has issued, or a finding from an own motion investigation conducted by the SSR, you can apply for an internal review. This page explains the terms used, whether you can apply, and what happens once you do.
Application form
To make an application, please complete the form below:
Once you have completed your application form and attached all supporting evidence and information it can be lodged via:
Email:
internalreview@ssr.vic.gov.au
Post:
Internal Review Team
Social Services Regulator
GPO Box 1774
Melbourne VIC 3001
Fees for an application for internal review
It is free to ask for an internal review under the Reportable Conduct Scheme.
Can you apply for an internal review?
You can apply for an internal review if the SSR has made one of the Reportable Conduct Scheme decisions listed below and you are the entity, the head of entity, or the person who received the notice or finding.
What decisions are subject to internal review?
You can apply for an internal review of the following decisions:
- A decision to issue a notice to produce to an entity, associated with the Reportable Conduct Scheme, issued under section 16ZG of the CWS Act. Internal review of this decision is under section 16ZI.
- A finding following an own motion investigation associated with a reportable allegation. Internal review of this decision is under section 16ZI.
- A decision to issue a notice to produce to the head of an entity or any other person, issued under section 16ZZI of the CWS Act. Internal review of this decision is under section 16ZZP.
- A decision to issue a reportable conduct notice to comply, issued under section 16ZZJ of the CWS Act. Internal review of this decision is under section 16ZZP.
Applying for internal review
Who can apply
The person, entity or head of entity who received the notice or finding can apply. Relevantly:
- For a notice to produce to an entity, the entity can apply.
- For a notice to produce to the head of an entity or an organisation, that person can apply.
- For a reportable conduct notice to comply, the head of entity can apply.
- For a review of a finding in an own motion investigation, the person against whom the finding is made can apply.
Who conducts an internal review or further application
When you apply for an internal review, the application will be allocated to the Internal Review team which is a separate part of the SSR to the one that made the original decision.
Evidence and information you should provide to support your application
Explain why you think the decision or finding should be changed and include any documents that support your application. Because these decisions concern notices to produce documents or information, or steps a head of entity must take, useful material can include the records relevant to the notice, evidence about what is reasonable or practicable for your entity to produce or do, and any submissions about why the notice should be amended or revoked.
Asking for more information from you and other sources
The SSR may ask you for more information during the internal review process. We’ll ask for the information in writing, and you will have 14 days to comply with the notice.
How we handle your information
The SSR handles your information in line with its obligations under Victorian law, including the Social Services Regulation Act 2021, the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014, the Health Records Act 2001, and the Public Records Act 1973. You can read more about how the SSR collects, uses, stores, and shares information on our privacy page.
Sharing your information
The SSR may share information with other schemes within the SSR, other regulators, agencies and, where relevant, Victoria Police, where the law permits.
Accessing and correcting your information
You can ask the SSR for access to documents that contain your personal information, and you can ask for that information to be corrected if wrong. Access requests are usually made under the Freedom of Information Act 1982. Find out how to make a Freedom of Information request.
If you have a concern about your privacy
If you believe the SSR has mishandled your information or disclosed it unreasonably, you can raise it with the SSR directly. If you are not satisfied with its response, you can complain to the Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner about personal or sensitive information, or to the Health Complaints Commissioner about health information.
What process will the Regulator undertake?
Once the Regulator receives your application
The Internal Review Unit will acknowledge receipt of your application. The team will assess your application to confirm that it is valid by checking that it relates to a decision that can be reviewed, and that it is made by a person who can ask for a review. We will then tell you about the internal review process and expected timelines, and how to provide any further evidence or written submissions.
Time frame for completing an internal review or further application
The SSR will make a decision as soon as reasonably practicable. Some applications for internal review may be more complex than others. This is particularly if the Internal Review Unit requests more time.
After an internal review is completed
Notification of outcome
Once the SSR has finished your internal review, it will write to you with the outcome.
The SSR will give you a written notice explaining the decision to affirm, amend or revoke the original decision or finding.
Providing reasons
Whenever the SSR gives you a decision on an internal review, you have the right to understand why that decision was made. The decision to either affirm, amend or revoke will be accompanied with a written notice setting out the reasons.
Further review rights to Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT)
If you remain dissatisfied with the outcome of a Reportable Conduct Scheme internal review, you may be able to seek a further review with the VCAT.
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